Pajamas, Rain, Field Trip, Rain, Fairytales, Rain, and Holiday Cheer

Oh my it has been a while since I have updated you all on my life in the tropics. I recovered nicely from the Jungle Adventure, and was excited to take on five weeks of full time responsibility. The past few weeks in the fifth grade have consisted of lots of reading. October was I Love to Read month where all the kids were reading every minute they got a chance. they were all striving for the first goal of 2400 pages so they could go to dessert with the administrator. My class as a whole read about 24,000 pages! Because of I Love to Read month, we got to do a Pajama day on the 26th where the entire elementary got to come to school in their pajamas and read books all day. It was so much fun. We moved all the desks back in our classroom, and brought pillows and blankets so we could comfortably indulge in some literature of our choice. At the end of the month, instead of celebrating Halloween, we have Story Book Day. This year's theme was Fairytale Fun. The elementary teachers dressed up as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs...I was Doc. My kids did a hilarious play called Cinderella Bigfoot. It was hilarious!
Earlier that week, I led my very first field trip. We went to Premier Plaza, a nearby grocery store to finish up our Digestion/Nutrition Unit. I split the kids up into "families" of four, and gave them a budget of Rp.40,000, similar to that of a Kampung family. I challenged them to make up a menu for a well-balanced and healthy meal using only the hypothetical amount. We went to the grocery store to price the items, and to see if they would have stayed within budget. It was a little crazy, but they had fun. They were all able to stay within budget after making some changes to their menus. It was a fun field trip and I think a rather eye-opening experience especially because a lot of them are businessman's kids who don't ever really go the the grocery store.
Also this month were Report Cards! We have been working all semester to recreate the elementary report cards, and a couple weeks ago we finally sent them home. This was a task that I was not looking forward to, but we figured out a system, and were able to get them done without having to stay at school until all hours of the night.
As only two weeks remain of me teaching full time, we have moved on to some fun units. In Social Studies, we are learning about the Renaissance, which has required quite a bit of studying on my part since history is my worst subject. We are reading a novel called Frindle together in literature circles and in math, I am attempting to teach measurement which is turning out to be a rather dry unit. I can't believe it, I have made it through the toughest part of this experience. Next week, to celebrate and relax a little, Charity, Kelly and I are going to Bali for a long weekend...it truly is a rough life I lead here in the tropics. I am looking forward to the food that awaits us there along with some good souvenir shopping.
Rainy season has most definitely arrived, which makes it a little easier to imagine fall weather here. It rains pretty much everyday after lunch and into early evening. Coming from the desert, I was not prepared for this kind of precipitation. It is really intense. One must leave the house with all rain gear they might possibly need, because there is no telling when the clouds will open up and you will get soaked head to toe.
The holidays are quickly approaching and the dates have been set in the house for decorating, cookie baking and Christmas music! Although it is difficult when there is no snow, and I am wearing capris and flip flops to work, it is nice to know that we can at least create the illusion of a "White Christmas."